Friday, September 6, 2019

A mini chemical lab could one day test for toxic nerve agents in the fieldA portable device that detects the chemical fingerprints of different compounds, LANL photo.

A mini version of lab equipment that identifies chemicals in suspect substances could someday help perform on-the-ground testing for chemical warfare agents.

Collecting samples of sarin, VX or other nerve agents and shipping them to a lab for testing can take weeks, says Robert Williams, a physical organic chemist at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. “If you can turn this into a portable system, you can make it a lot easier for people to use,” he says. “And you could get the results immediately.” (Full Story)

Quantum Darwinism spotted in diamond spinsSpins in diamond have been used to chart the transition between the quantum and classical worlds. Courtesy: iStock.

Quantum Darwinism, put forward by Wojciech Zurek of Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, argues that the classical states we perceive are robust quantum states that can survive entanglement during decoherence. His theoretical framework posits that the information about these states will be duplicated many times and disseminated throughout the environment. Just as natural selection tells us that the fittest individuals in a species must survive to reproduce in great numbers and so go on to shape evolution, the fittest quantum states will be copied and appear classical. This redundancy means that many individual observers will measure any given state as having the same value, so ensuring objective reality. (Full Story)

LAB SCIENCES: Welcome to nuclear inspector school

Nuclear material samples at the IAEA inspector training. LANL photo.

The IAEA sends out teams of nuclear inspectors who scrutinize nuclear facilities around the world to ensure that their nuclear materials are used only for peaceful purposes.

Inspectors go through training at Los Alamos National Laboratory, in one of the laboratory’s nuclear facilities, as part of their requirements to become qualified inspectors. The reason is simple: Los Alamos has been doing this work for a long time and, consequently, is home to abundant expertise in all things nuclear. (Full Story)

California earthquake alert: Big One fears as scientists hope to predict next major quake

Illustration from The Express.

Seismologists could be able to predict when the Big One is about to strike after discovering a series of mini tremors occur in the build-up to a major earthquake.

It was believed that there would be little or no forewarning to the major seismic event which could effect the entire west coast of the United States – but recent developments show they might. Experts at the Los Alamos National Laboratory have analysed almost two million small tremors in California – many of which were below a magnitude one on the Richter scale. (Full Story)

Governor’s STEM Challenge confirms 600+ participants

Laboratory Director Thom Mason. LANL photo.

Sixty-five New Mexico high schools have created student teams to imagine, design and develop a technological solution for the 2019-20 New Mexico Governor’s STEM Challenge.

“Los Alamos National Laboratory is excited to support the STEM Challenge. The competition is a win-win that both encourages New Mexican students in STEM fields, and will help meet future workforce needs of the Laboratory and the state,” LANL Director Thom Mason said. (Full Story)

Lisa Danielson brings NASA background and excitement to LANL

Lisa Danielson speaks at the August Science on Tap event. Reporter photo.

Lisa Danielson joined Los Alamos National Laboratory in April as the lead for planetary science in the Space and Remote Sensing Group. She brought with her that amazing energy, cheerful countenance and sense of humor that affects people wherever she goes.

After 15 years at NASA at the Johnson Space Center, Danielson said two things brought her to the Lab.

“About two years ago I was looking for the next thing I wanted to do with my career. I felt that I had kind of gone as far as I was going to go at JSC and I kept coming back to the fact that there are just so many things to do here at LANL. (Full Story)

Later legs of the trip took the group south to Santa Fe, N.M., where the educators visited the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The Texas A&M University System is part of a consortium that runs and operates the LANL. Giardino said researchers at the LANL offered a series of lectures to the G-Camp educators that focused on the work the laboratory is conducting in earthquake modeling, hydrology in Alpine environments and forest fire prevention.

Also in New Mexico, the group visited the White Sands, the world’s largest gypsum dune field. Azar said he utilized a 360-degree camera during his trip to create virtual reality (VR) videos and images for his students. (Full Story)To subscribe to Los Alamos Press Highlights, please e-mail listmanager@lanl.gov and include the words subscribe PressHighlights in the body of your email message; to unsubscribe, include unsubscribe PressHighlights.Please visit us at www.lanl.gov

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